Coupling for electrical plug connectors



Nov. 29, 1955 H. G. TANNER 2,725,543

COUPLING FOR ELECTRICAL PLUG CONNECTORS Filed May 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,4 ro/avEr Nov. 29, 1955 H. s. TANNER COUPLING FOR ELECTRICAL PLUG CONNECTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18, 1951 INVENTOR. HENRY 6'. TAN/V5 ATTORN United States Patent COUPLING FOR ELECTRICAL PLUG CONNECTORS Henry G. Tanner, Hoquiam, Wash.

Application May 18, 1951, Serial No. 227,039

1 Claim. (Cl. 339-87) The present invention relates to a coupling for electrical plug connectors and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally the invention comprises a pair of deformed strap-like members each of which is provided with a pair of buttons and a pair of key slots for engaging the same buttons. The pair of straps may be interconnected about a male and female plug connection to insure the electrical plugs remaining so connected.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device of the character set forth which is simple in construction, quite inexpensive to manufacture and yet eifective and efiicient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple means for coupling together a male and a female plug connector.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel means for interconnecting a pair of deformed straps forming a part of the invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of an embodiment of the invention shown in position upon a pair of electrical connector plugs,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but taken at right angles thereto,

Figure 3 is an end elevational view, partly in section, of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of Figure 2 illustrating certain details of construction,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of Figure 1 illustrating the manner of application of the device forming the present invention,

Figure 6 is a plan view of a unit of the present invention,

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing a member complementary to the member illustrated in Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 6,

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Figure 6, and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the strap members shown in Figures 6 and 7 folded into operative position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein a male electrical plug connector 10 in connected condition with a female electrical plug connector 11, the connectors 10 and 11 being respectively provided with conventional cables 12 and 13.

The device comprising the present invention consists of a deformed strap of leather, rubber or other pliable material having an elongated portion 14 and an enlarged laterally extending portion 15. By reference to Figures 6 and 7 it will be apparent that the straps are identical in nature but reverse. Adjacent the outer end of the elongated portion 14 there is provided a key-shaped button hole member 16 which is preferably clamped to the body of the strap, as indicated at 17. A like key-hole member 18 is aflixed in the strap adjacent the outer end of the portion 15 thereof.

A pair of buttons 19 is also provided and each of the buttons is provided with a base 20 which may be clamped to the body of the strap as illustrated in Figure 8, for example.

One of the buttons 19 is positioned at the inner end of the elongated portion 14 while the other button 19 is mounted upon the inner side of the portion 15 approximately centrally therein.

In operation, it will be apparent that in order to use the device one of the portions 15 is wrapped about the outer portion of one of the members 10 or 11 and its accompanying cable 12 or 13 as the case may be and thereafter that button 19 which lies at the inner end of the portion 14 may be inserted into the key-hole shaped button hole member 18 after which the other strap is mounted upon the remaining plug member in the identical manner after which the key hole 16 of one of the straps may be engaged over the remaining button 19 of the other strap in both cases as is well illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. When this is accomplished it will be apparent that it will become practically impossible for the plug 10 to become disengaged from the plug 11.

It will also be apparent that instead of the buttons 19, snap fasteners may be utilized.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A device of the character described comprising a pair of complementary strap members of pliable material, said strap members being identical to each other but of reversed shape to each other, said strap members each provided with an elongated portion and a laterally and angularly extending portion, fastening means carried by each of said straps for engaging the straps about an electrical plug connector and its associated cable and for engaging the straps to each other, said means comprising key-hole shaped buttonhole members aflixed in the outer end portion of each elongated portion and each angularly extending portion, and a pair of buttons afiixed to each of said strap members, one of said buttons of each of said strap members being engageable in the key-hole-shaped member carried by the angular portion thereof, and the other of said buttons of each strap member being engageable in the key-hole-shaped member carried by the elongated portion of the other strap member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 298,707 Rose May 13, 1884 1,311,923 Smith Aug. 5, 1919 1,626,305 Stephenson Apr. 26, 1927 2,206,471 Taylor July 2, 1940 2,291,793 Chandler Aug. 4,1942 2,384,267 Andersen Sept. 4, 1945 2,386,177 Andersen Oct. 9, 1945 2,406,567 Schueneman Aug. 27, 1946 2,461,427 Kneebone Feb. 8, 1949 2,562,268 Gratzner July 31, 1951 

